Magnetic latch



J. B. HoRvAY 2,662,787

MAGNETIC LATCH Dec. 15, 195s Filed Sept. 14, 1951 Figa.

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Patented Dec. 15, 1953 MAGNETIC LATCH Julius B. Horvay, Erie, Pa., assignor to General Electric Companyra corporation of New York Application September 14, 1951, Serial No. 246,600

10 Claims` (Cl. 292-2515) My invention relates to magnetic latches and pertains more particularly to a magnetic latch for use on refrigerator cabinets and the like.

It is one object of my invention to provide an improved magnetic latch employable on a refrigerator cabinet and adjustable to hold the door closed and compress a sealing gasket to a prescribed degree for maintaining a satisfactory seal.

It is another object of my invention to provide in a magnetic latch an improved arrangement for adjusting the amount of pull required forthe ren lease thereof.

it is a further object of my invention to provide an improved method for mounting and adjusting a magnetic latch on a refrigerator cabinet.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a magnetic latch including an improved shielding arrangement for protecting watches and the like from the effects of stray magnetic flux.

Further objects and advantages of my invention Will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claimsv annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation illustrating an embodiment of my invention applied to a refrigerator cabinet; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, partially broken away, and illustrating the relative disposition of elements, comprising a iirst embodiment of my invention'rig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional plan view wherein certain elements of the rst embodiment are shown in closed position; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view `wherein certain elements are shown in open position; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 5 5 in Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation view illustrating a second embodiment of my invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a refrigerator i, the construction of which includes a cabinet E, a closure member or door 3 and a compressible sealing member such as a gasket l between said door and cabinet. Suitably anixed to the door is a member which shall be herein generally referred to as a handle 5 and which is formed of a non-magnetic material. Mounted on the cabinet for cooperation with the handle is a member which shall be generally referred-to as a strike t, Now by reference to Figs. k2 and 3^, itl will be seen that carried in a recess provided in the handle 5 2 is a non-magnetic bar 'i formed ywith four balllike protrusions 8 against which rests the side of a permanent horseshoe magnet 9 arranged with its poles directed toward the cabinet 2; Provided for holding said magnet in this position is a pair of resilient and non-magnetic side retainers l! Vand apair of similar front retainers ii, all of which are suitably anchored to the 5.

Also formed in the handle and best seen in Fig. 4 is a socket l2 for receiving the strike 15 and suitably retained in the handle between the socket lf2 and the magnet a is a, non-magnetic pole protecting cap I3. f

Carried in an elongated recess lli also formed in the handle is a bar l5 composed of a magnetic material. The bar I5 is so disposed as to be laterally adjacent the magnet Si and in a flux shuntn ing relation to the poles thereof for minimizing stray magnetic flux which might otherwise tend to magnetize watches or other delicate instr-1b ments inadvertently brought in the region of the latch. This bar is retained in the mentioned recess by engagement with a step It cut in the above-mentioned non-magnetic bar l.

As also seen in Figs. 2, 3, and e', the strike 6 includes a magnetic bracket Il having three horizontal slots I8 which permit it, when mounted to the side of the cabinet by screws i9, to be adjusted relative to the magnet 9. IThe bracket Il is also formed with a forward extension which includes a magnet keeper or first armature 2Q adapted to be received in the socket l2 inthe handle 5. Provided for'being fully engageable with the first armature on the side opposite the magnet is a complementary magnet keeper or second armature 2l. This second armature is biased for full engagement with the first armature by a leaf spring 22, one end of which is retained in a notch 23 in said second armature and the other end of which is secured to the bracket, as indicated at 24. Carried in and passing through the free end of the second armature is an adjusting screw 25 by which theA gap between that end and the iirst armature may be varied. By this arrangement,

' the flux path presented to the magnet and therefore the attraction of the strike as a whole to the magnet may also be varied.

Provided for enclosing the sides of the strike bracket Il is a pair of non-magnetic side plates 26 formed with inwardly extending and opposed bosses 2l each of which includes a bore countersunk on the outer side in the manner seen in 5. With this arrangement, a fiat head screw 28 and a flush nut 2S are utilized for retaining the side platesZB in position.

Free of the cabinet and removably secured to the strike bracket Il' is a non-magnetic strike cover 30. This cover, in addition to enhancing the appearance of the latch assists in fully enclosing the strike mechanism.

In hanging the door, it is held closed and the gasket 4 is compressed until a satisfactory seal is attained. Then with the second armature in the position seen in Fig. 2 and the screws I9 loose the bracket l1 is moved forward or adjusted so that the first armature engages the magnet cap I3. Thereafter the screws are tightened and in this manner, the rst armature 20 and second armature 2l are positioned to provide a iiux path effective for holding the door closed and in a position giving the necessary gasket compression for a satisfactory seal.

Subsequently, the adjustment screw 25 may be turned to move one end of the second armature 2| away from the first armature 2G and thereby aiect the flux path and vary the door opening pull required on the handle Without substantially affecting the gasket compression and seal.

The magnet 3 is located relatively deep in the handle construction. Also, the magnetic bar l5 serves to shunt a substantial amount of the flux between the magnet poles when the door is open. In this manner the danger of magnetizing watches and like mechanisms is minimized.

When the door is closed, however, the nonmagnetic gap between the permanent horseshoe magnet 9 and the first armature 23 is considerably smaller than the non-magnetic gap between the permanent horseshoe magnet 9 and the magnetic bar l5. Thus, most of the flux from the magnetic poles of the horseshoe magnet 9 will pass through the armature 2i] and not the magnetic bar l5. Consequently, magnetic bar I5 does not substantially reduce the magnetic pull or door holding force when the door is in the closed position.

My second embodiment, as seen in Fig. 6, includes a magnetic strike bracket 3| having a first armature 32 adapted for attraction to a magnet 33, and is identical to the first described embodiment except for the provision of modified means for adjusting the door opening pull. In this form a complementary wedge-shaped magnet keeper or second armature 34 is provided to associate with the rst armature 32. By means of a slot 3-5 in the second armature 34 and a locking screw 3G threaded in the rst armature 32, the second armature is slidingly adjustable along the iirst armature. By this arrangement, the cross section of the magnetic material providing a ux path between the poles of the magnet 33 may be varied to adjust the door opening pull required.

While I have shown specic embodiments of my invention, l' do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular forms shown and described and I intend by the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A magnetic latch adapted for use in constructions including a cabinet member and a closure member therefor comprising; a magnet carried iixedly by one of said members, and a pair of complementary magnet keepers mounted on the other of said members and adjustable relative to said magnet, one of said keepers being adjustable relative to the other.

2. A magnetic latch adapted for use in constructions including a cabinet, a door therefor, and a compressible gasket between said cabinet and door comprising; a magnet mounted on said door, and a pair of complementary magnet keepers mounted on said cabinet and adjustable relative to said magnet for holding said door closed and compressing said gasket to a prescribed degree, one of said keepers being adjustable relative to the other for varying the door holding force and thereby adjusting the door opening pull required.

3. A magnetic latch adapted for use in constructions including a cabinet, a door therefor, and a compressible gasket between said cabinet and door comprising; a magnet xedly mounted on said door, a magnetic bracket mounted on said cabinet and formed to include a first armature, and a second armature carried by said bracket in complementary relation to said first armature, said bracket being adjustable relative to said magnet whereby said iirst and second armatures are positioned for holding the door closed and compressing said gasket to a prescribed degree, said second armature being adjustable relative to said iirst armature for varying the door holding force and thereby adjusting the door opening pull required.

4. A magnetic latch adapted for use in constructions including a cabinet, a door therefor, and a compressible gasket between said cabinet and door comprising; a magnet iiXedly mounted on said door, a magnetic bracket mounted on said cabinet and formed to include a irst armature, a second armature carried by said bracekt in complementary relation to said rst armature, said bracket being adjustable relative to said magnet whereby said rst and second armatures are positioned for holding the door closed and compressing said gasket to a prescribed degree, and a magnetic bar carried by said door adjacent said magnet for shunting the flux thereof when the door is open.

5. A. magnetic latch for use in constructions including a cabinet, a door, and a gasket between said cabinet and door comprising; a magnet xedly mounted on said door, a magnetic strike bracket mounted on said door and formed to include a rst armature, a second armature carried. by said bracket in complementary relation to said rst armature, said bracket being adjustable relative to said magnet whereby said rst and second armatures are positioned for holding the door closed and compressing said gasket to a prescribed degree, said second armature bcing adjustable for pivoting said second armature about one end thereof for varying the door holdmg force and thereby adjusting the door opening pull required.

6. A magnetic latch for constructions includmg a cabinet, a door, and a gasket between said cabinet and door comprising; a handle supported by said door and including a socket, a permanent magnet ixedly housed in said handle behind said socket, a strike bracket mounted on said door and formed to include a irst armature, and a second armature carried by said bracket, said rst and second armatures being in complementary relation and receivable in said handle socket when said door is closed, said bracket being adjustable relative to said magnet for positionlng said rst and second armatures to provide a flux path effective for holding the door closed and compressing the gasket a desired amount, said second armature being biased toward said first armature and carrying adjusting means whereby said second armature may be pivoted about one end thereof and thereby variably positioned relative to said first armature to affect the fiux path between the magnet poles for adjusting the door opening pull required on said handle.

'7. A magnetic latch for constructions including a cabinet, a door, and a gasket between said cabinet and door comprising; a handle supported by said door and including a socket, a permanent magnet fixedly housed in said handle behind said socket, a strike bracket mounted on said cabinet and formed to include a first armature, a second armature carried by said bracket, said rst and second armatures being in complementary relation and receivable in said handle socket when said door is closed, said bracket being adjustable relative to said magnet for positioning said first and second armatures to provide a flux path effective for holding the door closed and compressing the gasket a desired amount, said second armature being biased toward said first armature and carrying adjusting means whereby said second armature may be pivoted about one end thereof and thereby variably positioned relative to said first armature to affect the flux path between the magnet poles for adjusting the door opening pull required on said handle, and a magnetic bar carried in said handle adjacent said magnet for shunting the ux thereof when said door is open.

8. A magnetic latch for constructions including a cabinet, a door, and a gasket between said cabinet and door comprising; a door handle, a magnet iixedly mounted in said door handle, a strike bracket mounted on said cabinet and formed to include a first armature, and a second armature carried by said bracket, said first and second armatures being in complementary relation, said bracket being slidingly adjustable relative to said magnet for positioning said first and second armatures to provide a flux path effective for holding the door closed and compressing the gasket a desired amount, said second armature being wedge-shaped and slidingly adjustable along said first armature for varying the cross section of the ux path between the magnet poles to adjust the door opening pull required on said handle.

9. A magnetic latch for constructions including a cabinet, a door and a gasket between said cabinet and door comprising; a handle supported by said door and including a socket, a permanent magnet xedly housed in said handle behind said socket, a magnetic strike bracket mounted on said cabinet and formed to include a first armature, and a second armature carried by said bracket, said first and second armatures being in complementary relation and receivable in said handle socket when said door is closed, said bracket being slidingly adjustable relative to said magnet for positioning said first and second armatures to provide a fiux path effective for holding the door closed and compressing the gasket a desired amount. said second armature being wedge-shaped and fastened to said bracket by a screw and slot connection whereby said second armature is variably positionable along said first armature for affecting the flux path between the magnet poles for adjusting the door opening pull required on said handle.

10. A magnetic latch for constructions including a cabinet, a door, and a gasket between said cabinet and door comprising; a handle supported by said door and including a socket, a permanent magnet flxedly housed in said handle behind said socket, a magnetic strike bracket mounted on said cabinet and formed to include a first armature, a second armature carried by said bracket, said first and second armatures being in complementary relation and receivable in said handle socket when said door is closed, said bracket being slidingly adjustable relative to said magnet for positioning said first and second armatures to provide a flux path effective for holding the door closed and compressing the gasket a desired amount, said second armature being wedge-shaped and fastened to said bracket by a screw and slot connection whereby said second armature is variably positionable along said first armature for affecting the flux path between the magnet poles to adjust the door opening pull required on said handle, and a magnetic bar carried in said handle adjacent said magnet for shunting the flux thereof when said door is open.

JULIUS B. HORVAY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,252,144 Taylor et al. Aug. 12, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 544,110 Great Britain Mar. 27, 1942 573,454 Great Britain Nov. 21, 1945 

